“Yes, but…how much do you know about the history between your father and my aunt?”
“They met years ago and became…friends.”
“They met twenty years ago, Evan, and they didn’t become friends. They fell in love. Yet they couldn’t be together because they were both already committed to other people whom they didn’t love.”
“My mother was a wonderful woman, Rose. She was a good wife to my father.”
“From what I’ve heard, she sounds like an amazing person,” Rose agreed, “and I don’t doubt that she was, to produce a son as fine as you.” She smiled, patting his hand lightly. “But your father wasn’t in love with her. Surely you knew that.”
“Yes.” Evan sighed. “I suppose I did.”
“So when he met Aunt Iris all those years ago and fell in love, he wasn’t free to be with her, nor she with him. That’s sad, don’t you think?”
“Well, they’re together now.”
“Yes, after twenty years!” Rose chuckled softly. “Do you really want to wait twenty years for your true love?”
“You and I could grow to love each other in time,” Evan said. “That happens.”
“Yes, it does. I believe it did so with Maggie and the duke. And it could, with us. I hold you in high regard and I enjoy our time together and I enjoy our…kisses. But if that is the case, shouldn’t we wait until we fall in love to get married?”
“It’s time I got married, Rose.”
“Heavens, you’re only twenty-six. My brother is twenty-eight and unmarried, and the duke is thirty-two and only now just got married. You don’t need to be in any hurry.”
“My father thinks I should marry.”
“Really? I should think your father would understand your need to wait until you fall in love.”
“All right.” He let out a breathy laugh. “My father hasn’t said anything. I made that up.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I care for you more than any
other woman I’ve known. Maybe it’s not true love, but it’s something.”
“It is. It’s a very nice something. But we are both young. Neither of us needs to be in any hurry.”
“Perhaps you’re right.”
Rose withdrew the ring from her finger, placed it in his palm, closed his fingers over it, and clasped his hand in hers. “Let’s wait. We can still see each other if you would like, or we could take a break and see if that perfect someone comes along for either of us.”
“You’re a wise woman, Rose.” He kissed her cheek. “I wish we were in love.”
“Oh, Evan, so do I.” She brushed her lips lightly against his, in what she knew in her heart was their last kiss. “You will make some lucky woman very happy someday.”
“And I envy the man who wins your love, my dear.” He stood, helping her to her feet. “I have enjoyed our time together.”
“As have I,” Rose said earnestly. “I will always value your friendship, my lord.”
“May I escort you into the parlor for an aperitif?”
“Of course. I’d be delighted.”
“I’ll speak to my father later,” Evan said as they walked. “I’ll tell him you and I have decided to…wait a bit before rushing into marriage.”
“Thank you. I hope I haven’t put you in an awkward position.”